CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 11,409,219	$ 10,937,784	$ 10,767,863
Cost of sales	10,338,825	10,094,308	9,296,249
Gross profit	1,070,394	843,476	1,471,614
Selling, general and administrative expense	379,910	343,025	389,517
Administrative restructuring activities	(84)	4,765	9,775
Operating income	690,568	495,686	1,072,322
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	132,630	162,812	107,183
Interest income	(14,277)	(13,811)	(7,730)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	6,917	17,160	(2,659)
Gain on bargain purchase	(56,880)	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	4,633	(2,702)	(6,538)
Income before income taxes	617,545	332,227	982,066
Income tax expense	161,009	85,423	263,899
Net income	456,536	246,804	718,167
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	0	0	23,486
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	612	(1,141)	102
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 455,924	$ 247,945	$ 694,579
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	249,401	248,945	248,738
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	308	204	233
Diluted (in shares)	249,709	249,149	248,971
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.83	$ 1.00	$ 2.79
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.83	$ 1.00	$ 2.79